Pentagon Denies Contact with WikiLeaks Over Docs

(AP)  Updated at 2:05 p.m. EDT.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said Wednesday the Pentagon has expressed willingness to discuss the online whistleblower's request for help in reviewing classified documents from the Afghan war and removing information that could harm civilians.

The Pentagon denied any direct contacts with WikiLeaks.

"This week we received contact through our lawyers that the General Counsel" of the Pentagon "says now that they want to discuss the issue," Assange told The Associated Press by telephone.

Assange added that the contacts have been brokered by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, or CID.

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman denied any direct contacts between the Pentagon and WikiLeaks. He also said the Pentagon is not interested in cooperating with WikiLeaks, which has asked for help in reviewing the documents to purge the names of Afghan informants from the files.

"We are not interested in negotiating some sort of minimized or sanitized version of classified documents," he said.

"These documents are property of the United States government. The unauthorized release of them threatens the lives of coalition forces as well as Afghan nationals."

Asked if CID had brokered contact between defense lawyers and Wikileaks lawyers, Whitman said: "CID is conducting an investigation and I am not going to comment on their investigation."

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Assange said Wednesday that "contact has been established" but added it was not clear whether and how the U.S. military would assist WikiLeaks.

"It is always positive for parties to talk to each other," Assange said. "We welcome their engagement."

He reiterated that WikiLeaks plans to release its second batch of secret Afghan war documents within "two weeks to a month."

The first files in its "Afghan War Diary" laid bare classified military documents covering the war in Afghanistan from 2004 to 2010. The release angered U.S. officials, energized critics of the NATO-led campaign, and drew the attention of the Taliban, which has promised to use the material to track down people it considers traitors.

Non-governmental organizations, including the Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Without Borders, have criticized WikiLeaks as being irresponsible.

WikiLeaks describes itself as a public service organization for whistleblowers, journalists and activists.

"We encourage other media and human rights groups who have a genuine concern about reviewing the material to assist us with the difficult and very expensive task of getting a large historical archive into the public's record," Assange said.

The Australian was in Sweden in part to prepare an application for a publishing certificate that would allow WikiLeaks to take full advantage of the Scandinavian nation's press freedom laws.

That also means WikiLeaks would have to appoint a publisher that could be held legally responsible for the material. Assange said that person would be "either me or one of our Swedish people."

WikiLeaks routes its material through Sweden and Belgium because of the whistleblower protection offered by laws in those countries. But it also has backup servers in other countries to make sure the site is not shut down, Assange said.

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By Associated Press Writer Karl Ritter. Pauline Jelinek in Washington contributed to this report

[AnnieDanny]

Disgusting. I find it difficult to believe that this company would play games with classified war materials: it just seems to me that it's beyond all conscience. And for those who think war is a crime, well then they should get their heads out of the sand because I don't think they've figured out that there is real evil on this earth... people who will take what they want, kill what they want, abuse what they want. Which is what the Taliban was doing in Afghanistan. And that is what they did on 911. How could anyone forget 911 already? But it seems that many have.

This despicable game that Wikileaks is playing is a slam against 911, against our American soldiers and allies, and against the USA in general. I hope somebody figures a way to shut them down for good.

[ToolMangler1]

Keep watch as Wikileaks gives power to those that believe 'man' should not have control over what he does or thinks. They will take control of the Internet and Satelite communications. (supposedly to stop 'Wikileaks and others like them from controlling Business, Government and the military). (You heard it here 'for the three thousandth time) sit back and enjoy. ;)

[rafaeldrc]

My immediate reaction is that our military CANNOT be trusted. How can the keepers of mountains of documented killings (kept secret) be trusted to do anything else but protect themselves - not its foot soldiers - but the very institution of the Military. It's like asking Bishops to report cases of pedophilia to the police, or give testimony against their own priest in court. The Officer Corp does not want us to know how their gross decisions have impacted the war, foreign policy and our nation's international image. They are hiding behind the premise that, they are trying to save the lives of collaborators, when in fact, they don't want to expose themselves for what they have been doing. They want to protect themselves first, and foremost.

War is murder, on both sides. Let us not attempt to protect ourselves from knowing the truth even at the cost of loosing soldiers. The truth will shorten the war. In the end, historians will expose what is going on. I want to know NOW!

We, as a nation, are already on a tragic course for having been mislead and the deception continues.

[rocketjl]

Hogwash. This sounds like an Obama interpretation of 'what I want to do'. The release of 20,000+ military secrets during a war cannot, in any way be listed as whistle-blowing, on what. Did 'a' person use a government credit card to buy beer? Did 'a' politician kiss his secretary. What was the original intent of releasing thousands of military secrets in one basket. Say what you will, but I think we need to go after these guys and everything they have.

[DocD--2008]

I think the military should broker a deal, until this ass is in the room with them then just make him disappear, along with his buddies.